WIND DAMAGE AND FLASH FLOODING

Severe Weather and Flooding Discussion

Flooding has become a significant problem across portions of the Ohio Valley, and additional heavy rainfall today could worsen those conditions.

Yesterday's derecho produced a widespread swath of damaging winds and power outages from the Chicago area southeastward through the Ohio Valley and into the Smoky Mountains. With soils already saturated and waterways running high, today's additional thunderstorms could create serious flooding concerns.

Another round of thunderstorms is expected to move through the region today and tonight, with the greatest flooding concerns across Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia. Torrential rainfall could quickly produce additional flash flooding, particularly where storms repeatedly track over areas that have already received substantial rainfall.

There is also the potential for another organized area of strong to severe thunderstorms to develop across the Midwest and track southeastward into the southern Ohio Valley. These storms could produce damaging wind gusts, additional power outages, torrential rainfall, and frequent lightning.

The combination of saturated ground, elevated waterways, and additional fast-moving thunderstorm complexes makes today particularly concerning for flooding. Residents in areas that have already experienced flooding should be prepared for conditions to deteriorate quickly as additional storms move through.

Primary concerns today:

• Additional flash flooding

• Rapid rises on streams and creeks

• Damaging straight-line winds

• Power outages

• Torrential rainfall

• Another organized thunderstorm complex

Overall, the Ohio Valley remains in a very dangerous and active weather pattern, with both flooding and damaging winds posing significant threats today into tonight.